Military might under suspicion: Xi Jinping's PLA purge unveiled in display of military prowess
In a significant turn of events, Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign against the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is entering its most dramatic phase. This crackdown, justified under the banner of anti-corruption, has led to the most sweeping dismantling of senior military leadership since the Mao era.
The purges, starting from September 2021, have seen the expulsion of four generals from the National People's Congress, including Wang Chunning, the commander of the People's Armed Police. Senior figures from the Rocket Force and logistics departments were also removed. The purge machinery follows the earlier ouster of Admiral Miao Hua and General He Weidong, both members of the Central Military Commission (CMC).
The cost of these purges is not merely the incentivizing of conformity over initiative but also the disruption of continuity at a time when the PLA faces its steepest learning curve. The struggle in complex operations and increased unpredictability due to loyalty-first promotions make miscalculation more likely.
The internal distrust, revealed by the purges, has led to a hollowing-out of trust in the PLA's officers and institutions. For adversaries, this political loyalty test over professional competence introduces both risks and opportunities. The PLA's struggle in complex operations and increased unpredictability due to loyalty-first promotions make miscalculation more likely.
The 2025 military parade in Beijing showcased China's advanced military hardware, including hypersonic missiles and drone submarines. However, the timing of this parade, showcasing China's nuclear triad, hypersonic weapons, drone swarms, and directed-energy systems, is ironic given the internal distrust within the PLA. The parade, intended to showcase China's inevitable rise, has instead highlighted the contradiction between China's military advancements and the leadership's inability to trust its own guardians.
Xi Jinping's assertion of control exposes the fragility of the institutions meant to carry his vision forward. The parade, viewed through the lens of political fragility, is seen as driven by fear of purges. Xi consolidates power through fear, but this assertion of control has led to a deeper trust deficit between the Communist Party and its own armed wing.
This is a pivotal moment in the history of the PLA, as Xi's PLA is both more dangerous and less reliable. Equipped with cutting-edge tools but shadowed by institutional mistrust, the PLA's officers and institutions tasked with operating this arsenal face unprecedented challenges. The cost of these purges is yet to be fully understood, but it is clear that the PLA is at a critical juncture in its evolution.
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